It is truly amazing how weather can change your perceptions about a place. Here I was, strolling through the Lund city centre in the early evening sun. I don't know how many times I have been here, 18 times maybe, which in any case a lucky number. The city seems to be bursting with life. I only noticed today that the whole city centre is cobble stone paved, which makes it just as charming as any medeterannian cities. All the restaurants, bars and cafes have their tables and chairs out in the sun, people are drinking and soaking up the sun. They all look really happy. You come to appreciate the warm sunshine more in a Nordic country, as the summer is short, yet when it comes, it is warm and sweet and it lights up life like wild fires. The sun beams down through the red tiles on the roofs, casting gentle shadowes on the cobble paved street. It is almost post card perfect.
I got an ice cream and walked around the streets, I felt I was rediscovering Lund. I never noticed there are so many restaurants and bars in this small town. I had the impression of Lund as a dark and gloomy place and the town centre is small, with only a few shops and restaurants around. Maybe some restaurants and bars only open in summer or the Swedish economy is booming against all the odds in the Euro zone? Whatever it is, I was enjoying what I saw. Then I thought of Gainesville, the college town I lived in Florida. It is similar to Lund, with students making up big part of the population. I remember being enchanted by the perfect lawn, squirrels jumping in the big oak trees, red tiled building dotted in the green campus, and of ocurse the forever sunshine. But compared with a small European city like Lund, it lacks of certain charm and flair. It is hard to say what the European charm is, but it is kind of life style too, you know when you see it. In Lund, a typically small Scandinnvian town, on a sunny and warm evening like this, you feel the sense of enjoying life and relaxed attitude in the air. I think it has something to do with their society as well, people are more equal and it is a very safe and peaceful place where you see more the bright side of life.
Thinking of bright side of life, I almost wanted to have another ice cream, but then I thought of the quote "you can't have too many of the good things", well, maybe another time then.
Talking about life style, I suddently realize that there is one priceless thing Europe could export, which is life style. The old engine of industrilization might be in trouble, but the culture side of things have not died. And I know as a Chinese, we know there are many admirers in China who want to import that life style. And the golden key to this life style is: focus on quality of life rather the quantity of material life. I know there is a top job I could not refuse, that would be the life style embassador of Europe to China.
